Dig Dug... I get it! —

Stranger Things 2: The hype strikes back, but the story alliance is ready

Here's a Stranger Things 2 eps. 1-3 review. Can I go watch more of it yet?

Enlarge/ Will! He's alive and kinda sorta well. (As practically a new character this season, Noah Schnapp has been excellent early on. He wears the anxiety and uncertainty of Will's past on his face at all times.)

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Warning: This story contains some spoilers for episodes 1-3 of Stranger Things' second season. You can read our review of season one or episodes 4-6 and episodes 7-9 elsewhere on site.

For returning fans of Netflix’s surprise hit Stranger Things, it likely only took roughly 54 seconds for the second season to feel like a success. As soon as the familiar intro sequence hits—vintage synths pulsing as a kodalith technique nails the '80s horror-thriller mood—you’re happy to be in Hawkins, Indiana, again. The first instances of a nervous Joyce Byers doting on her sons or Chief Hopper barging into the office only seal the sentiment.

Further Reading

Thankfully, the first three episodes of the new run reveal that many of Stranger Things’ strengths have returned. The Duffer Bros. and co. again nail the emotions and aesthetic of the “kids-on-bikes-have-an-adventure” genre many know and love. Life in Hawkins still has enough unsettled peculiarities story-wise to propel another round of thrills. And new additions to the cast feel largely organic to this world and not like one-note story fodder.

If this qualifies as the Stranger Things-version of a sequel—and not merely a second TV season—we may be in for more of an Empire Strikes Back experience and mercifully not Teen Wolf- or RoboCop-likesequels.

Our core four have returned, though that is distinctly not Eleven on the right.

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Steve and Nancy continue their relationship early in S2.

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Chief Hopper keeps stumbling across seemingly paranormal things as part of his normal day-to-day.

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Same faces, new feelings

Stranger Things S2 doesn’t seem to be a straight-up reboot of the first, its cast simply shuffled a tad and placed into a new adventure (see Ghostbusters 2 or Temple of Doom). Stranger Things instead effectively allows the life-altering events of S1 to play out in logical ways for each of the main characters. Joyce has become an extreme helicopter parent because she wasn’t watching when some otherworldly spirit snatched her kid in S1. Hopper’s own PTSD from the tragedy of his lost daughter and torn family leads him to be over-protective out of fear of losing Eleven, and he similarly tries to be as “heroic” as he was in S1 by handling the supernatural elements of Hawkins in quiet while projecting tranquility to the town at large.

The major kids all behave differently because of their various interactions with the Upside Down. Mike, Dustin, and Lucas speak in hushed tones about whether Will is OK as they look out for him both explicitly and when he’s not around. Jonathan spends more time with his brother, too, and he encourages Will to lean in to his uniqueness as a defense/coping mechanism (“Being normal never accomplished anything in this world,” Jonathan says after advising him to be weird like David Bowie). Nancy hasn’t brushed off guilt over Barb’s disappearance, either.

Perhaps the best bits early on are when these effects of the Upside Down adventure mingle with typical growing pains. Not only are Dustin and Lucas growing more interested in their female classmates, but they have to balance how much to fill newcomer Max in on their prior adventures (and how much to integrate her into the group as Mike clearly deals with withdrawal over Eleven’s absence). Life will force Nancy and Jonathan to move forward with high school graduation somewhat looming, but their day-to-day now involves uncovering more about what happened to their best friends. Joyce understandably wants what she views as a normal relationship again, but how much can new beau Bobby (aka, Rudy’sSean Astin returning to Indiana!) learn of the Byers’ prior experience before she comes off as unhinged?

Paul Reiser! (Yes, it's sort of like his Alien-franchise role thus far.)

Eleven returns as well, though she's isolated from the group to start early on. (I anticipate things will really hum when that gets corrected.)

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If I were a betting man, I'd wager this Indiana trip won't end as well for Sean Astin as the previous one. (Though remember how Steve evolved in S1? Maybe this significant other can similarly defy expectations.)

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Is it good or merely nostalgic?

If Stranger Things battled the existential question of “is this good or do I merely like it because it’s familiar” in S1, the stakes there only elevate with a sequel. Luckily, the show appears to have plenty to offer even if you caught S1 only as an accomplice to some loved one’s binge.

Plot-wise, Stranger Things S2 again doesn’t reinvent the wheel. New students (literally skateboarding in from California) come to Hawkins' middle and high schools to shake things up (see Remember the Titans). Eleven isn’t the only human experiment now roaming the streets with unusual abilities (pick your favorite X-Men instance of this). The kids stumble across what’s clearly an otherworldly being, yet despite literally coming face to face with a Demogorgon and having a permanently shook best friend, they instinctively want to secretly shepherd this thing (E.T.). Mike even explicitly acknowledges how dumb this late decision is in light of S1: “Just because you’re from the Upside Down doesn’t mean you’re necessarily bad,” Dustin says to defend his new pet. “That’s like saying someone from the Death Star isn’t necessarily bad,” Mike retorts.

Further Reading

Such storytelling ideas have proven track records, and there’s every reason to believe they’ll work out in satisfying ways when paired with this engaging world and these likable characters. Thus far, those long-term arcs also get balanced well with single-episode storylines that, for the most part, work, like the boys needing to find out who usurped Dustin at the local arcade’s Dig Dug. (Personally, I could have done with a little less back story on how Hopper and Eleven’s secret hideout came into existence, but a lot of TV nowadays tends to do this “show-your-work”-style extended flashback storytelling. See Tyrell Wellick’s journey on the most recent Mr. Robot seasonas just the latest example.)

Early on, the show weaves some very 2017 themes into 1984, too. Bobby dealt with bullying as a kid and empathizes with Will over how the town/school treats him in light of his Upside Down abduction. The kids still champion knowledge and understanding in an era long before #fakenews becomes a thing (bless those paddles for your curiosity adventure, Dustin).

Our big bads in the Hawkins federal lab seem to be ramping up to factor heavily into this modern theme. These authorities use the fear of others to try to force compliance (“We’re all patriots in this house,” a lab officer tells the Wheelers in a flashback to the search for Eleven). And the labs’ agents subtly engage in mass surveillance through CC cameras and local phone line monitoring. They even work behind the scenes with other institutions (sadly, including Chief Hopper’s office) to promote a message of tranquility. “I get what you went through last year, I get it,” Paul Reiser’s nefarious Dr. Owens tells Joyce and Hopper early on. “But those people are gone. We’re on the same side—you need to trust me.” The period setting and separation makes such touches feel less preachy (and perhaps more effective) compared to, say, Mr. Robot S3 explaining why the 2016 election played out the way it did.

What about Barb??

Of course, there is one noticeable change early in S2 that may owe a debt of gratitude to the show’s audience. No part of Stranger Things S1 generated as much fan reaction as the seemingly overlooked disappearance of Barb, Nancy Wheeler’s straight-laced best friend. In an era of people being egregiously horrible to women in many walks of life, the no-frills dismissal of the smart and comfortable-with-herself Barb set the stage for her adoption as a fan icon (and as an Emmy-nominated supporting actor in the face of minimal screen time). Through three episodes of S2, Barb may come up more than she did the entire first season.

In typical Stranger Things fashion, it’s done smartly. Nancy and Steve’s seemingly comfy relationship has this traumatic event shaking everything to the core (remember, Nancy chose a moment of romance and intimacy and had a monster devour her friend as what could be perceived as some kind of “consequence”). They have regular dinners with Barb’s mourning parents, and they disagree about how to deal with the emotional fallout. Barb, most certainly, is not done factoring in to Hawkins life.

Fan service elements by and large serve as mere color for this world—there's some Dragon’s Lair and digs at Dig Dug in an arcade; our favorite tweens dress as Ghostbusters (with Lucas logically dismissing being typecast as Winston: “He joined late, he’s not even a scientist—no one wants to be Winston”). Our big takeaway from S1 still seems to hold water in S2: media like Ready Player One and The Force Awakens rely on nostalgia as a narrative center; Stranger Things simply unleashes it in the background to further the show’s real-world feel.

So if you’ve also managed to avoid the Internet spoiler machine thus far, Stranger Things S2has absolutely offered enough in the early parts of S2 to propel this watcher (quickly) through the mysteries ahead in these nine episodes. I’d likely happily watch along just for more artistic moments like the quiet Survive score as Mike calls out for Eleven into the great nothing over his Walkie Talkie or the Ghostbusters outtro of Episode 2, but learning how these characters I enjoy are going to further navigate the Upside Down fallout (and inevitably handle its re-emergence into their lives and town) certainly feels worth my time. Seeing Hopper’s relationship with the lab play out or discovering more about the unusual 008 or this pumpkin pollution should only add delicious nougat to this TV 3 Musketeers treat.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, Eleven just decided to abandon her hideout, and some roaring, quickly growing pollywog-thing has escaped to roam wild around Hawkins. It’s time to hit “next episode” (we’ll pick this conversation up again later in the season).

I really want more exposition on what The Upside-Down actually *is*. Is it simply a dark mirror of our world, or an alternate reality / timeline where something went wrong?

It's supposed to be Lovecraftian in nature. As such, you'll never get any true explanation other than another dimension that somewhat mirrors our own.

I actually liked the second season more than the first. I think things moved along at a faster pace while still fleshing out the characters and their pasts/motivations. The ending also makes me hopeful for a third season. That Lovecraftian horror is just too cool to go to waste.

I really want more exposition on what The Upside-Down actually *is*. Is it simply a dark mirror of our world, or an alternate reality / timeline where something went wrong?

It's supposed to be Lovecraftian in nature. As such, you'll never get any true explanation other than another dimension that somewhat mirrors our own.

I actually liked the second season more than the first. I think things moved along at a faster pace while still fleshing out the characters and their pasts/motivations. The ending also makes me hopeful for a third season. That Lovecraftian horror is just too cool to go to waste.

Dude, only 3 episodes in? Not sure how you managed to not watch more than that. Definitely have more self control than we do...

I was pleasantly surprised by how well that second season held up. I'd say it was on par with season 1 in quality.

I am a little worried about a season 3 (be surprised if it didn't get another season in this day and age, considering how well the first 2 went over).

Spoiler: show

If they have the upside down invading yet again after all the effort we went to in order to close the portal this season, I'm afraid it's going to feel a bit forced. Hopefully they can pivot it to keep it new.

It's definitely not anywhere as good as the first season, but it's like the Matrix - once the mystery of many of the primary plot points is gone, it's tough to hit that high note again. Some of the references this season have been almost distracting in their gratuity (we get some extremely obvious Aliens, Alien III, and Jurassic Park references later on). Episode seven was... bizarre, and felt like a bad TV show about tweens with superpowers. Their explanation of the upside-down doesn't quite make sense with how it was presented in the first season either.

Spoiler: show

Is it a physical location in this dimension (tunnels beneath the city) or an alternate dimension?

That being said, it's still highly entertaining, and I'll probably binge it again once I'm done (one episode left!)

I love almost everything about the show, except their need to recreate that 80s homophobia. Ugh.

Why? It was a definite part of the 80's? I can still remember how people used to call one another fag as an insult long before BBS's and multi-player games. The whole anti-gay thing was very strong in the 80's. Since there's so much 80's homage in this show, that anti-gay/homophobe theme seems to be a very valid part of it all. The bad comes with the good.

I really want more exposition on what The Upside-Down actually *is*. Is it simply a dark mirror of our world, or an alternate reality / timeline where something went wrong?

It's supposed to be Lovecraftian in nature. As such, you'll never get any true explanation other than another dimension that somewhat mirrors our own.

I actually liked the second season more than the first. I think things moved along at a faster pace while still fleshing out the characters and their pasts/motivations. The ending also makes me hopeful for a third season. That Lovecraftian horror is just too cool to go to waste.

There is the post-season "tv show" on Netflix with half dozen or so 22 minute episode where this vaguely annoying host sits down with the actors and the most-used director and the Duffer Brothers (different mix of people for each episode), and while no one confirmed a 3rd season, several conversations implied to me that we will get at least one more season, and the Duffer Brothers feel things could go one for another 4 (after that, the kids will be out of high school - next year they will Freshman in high school) before the show has a creative dead-end.

How is it that Max's older brother can simultaneously be the baddest rebel and top jock? Something doesn't add up with that character.

He wasn't really shown to be popular, simply muscular and athletic. As a new kid in town he could easily step in as top athlete while still playing the rebel.

Not just that. But after season 1, he's essentially taking Steve's place as the head of the school. Nice ass, nice body, very athletic, and the person we all thought Steve would actually be (like how Steve turned out to be the nice guy led astray by asshole friends).

How is it that the entire season was released early Friday morning and you're only on episode 3?

Unfortunate timing on this end: I couldn't get advanced screeners lined up (seemed to only go to the biggest TV outlets) and then my brother was in town due to a conference. This approach to reviewing may lead to easier discussion threads anyway, where folks can hash out particulars of a handful of episodes at a time (pending on interest, I imagine we'll either do three trio reviews or one more that covers the rest of the season).

How is it that Max's older brother can simultaneously be the baddest rebel and top jock? Something doesn't add up with that character.

Yeah, that dude really bugged me, as it felt like he had no real point than just being a sociopath.

Spoiler: show

That random scene where he tried to pick on on the "hot Mom"? WTF was that? Perhaps he'll actually be developed (or killed off) in the next season?

I do think they plan to do more with his character. The creators discuss him as a "human villain" (as if the DoE scientists weren't enough?) so I think they were really trying to make him seem like a terrible human.

How is it that Max's older brother can simultaneously be the baddest rebel and top jock? Something doesn't add up with that character.

He wasn't really shown to be popular, simply muscular and athletic. As a new kid in town he could easily step in as top athlete while still playing the rebel.

Not just that. But after season 1, he's essentially taking Steve's place as the head of the school. Nice ass, nice body, very athletic, and the person we all thought Steve would actually be (like how Steve turned out to be the nice guy led astray by asshole friends).

Yes, the creators of the show actually discuss this and indicated that Steve initially was designed to end up like this kind of asshole, but they said something about his character "evolved" into the Steve we've all grown attached to instead. All the better for it, I think.

How is it that Max's older brother can simultaneously be the baddest rebel and top jock? Something doesn't add up with that character.

Definitely the oddest, least successful addition to the cast through 3eps—seems so very, very one-note assholish but the writers seem to have left a lot of his intentions to mystery early on. Hoping he makes more sense somehow, someway down the line (only new character I felt "meh" about thus far), but very hard to discern what his role is right now.

How is it that Max's older brother can simultaneously be the baddest rebel and top jock? Something doesn't add up with that character.

He wasn't really shown to be popular, simply muscular and athletic. As a new kid in town he could easily step in as top athlete while still playing the rebel.

Not just that. But after season 1, he's essentially taking Steve's place as the head of the school. Nice ass, nice body, very athletic, and the person we all thought Steve would actually be (like how Steve turned out to be the nice guy led astray by asshole friends).

Yes, the creators of the show actually discuss this and indicated that Steve initially was designed to end up like this kind of asshole, but they said something about his character "evolved" into the Steve we've all grown attached to instead. All the better for it, I think.

I like the arc because it didn't follow the archetypal jock douche (had too many jock friends in middle and high school, even though I was a nerd/geek, to know that most were pretty decent people). Also, Max's brother had his own demons. Once you get into season 2 far enough. You find Billy has some reasons to act like he does. It's not just some nonsense about pure malice. That vibe ends once you see a certain scene between him and his father.

How is it that Max's older brother can simultaneously be the baddest rebel and top jock? Something doesn't add up with that character.

Definitely the oddest, least successful addition to the cast through 3eps—seems so very, very one-note assholish but the writers seem to have left a lot of his intentions to mystery early on. Hoping he makes more sense somehow, someway down the line (only new character I felt "meh" about thus far), but very hard to discern what his role is right now.

One note? Have you seen the entire season? He's far from one note once you get his motivation. Keep in mind that unlike Max, he's no clue what's actually going on in town. He's just acting as a damaged teen in his situation often does.

Dude, only 3 episodes in? Not sure how you managed to not watch more than that. Definitely have more self control than we do...

I was pleasantly surprised by how well that second season held up. I'd say it was on par with season 1 in quality.

I am a little worried about a season 3 (be surprised if it didn't get another season in this day and age, considering how well the first 2 went over).

Spoiler: show

If they have the upside down invading yet again after all the effort we went to in order to close the portal this season, I'm afraid it's going to feel a bit forced. Hopefully they can pivot it to keep it new.

I'm guessing the reviewer got the pre-release 3-episode preview. Not sure why the review was delayed this long, though.

How is it that Max's older brother can simultaneously be the baddest rebel and top jock? Something doesn't add up with that character.

Yeah, that dude really bugged me, as it felt like he had no real point than just being a sociopath.

Spoiler: show

That random scene where he tried to pick on on the "hot Mom"? WTF was that? Perhaps he'll actually be developed (or killed off) in the next season?

I do think they plan to do more with his character. The creators discuss him as a "human villain" (as if the DoE scientists weren't enough?) so I think they were really trying to make him seem like a terrible human.

Which he is, although it becomes plenty clear where it comes from.

Spoiler: show

Interestingly enough, I didn't think the scientists were that villainous (to be clear, I mean this seasons, not last seasons - I was assuming most of the original ones were killed off or fired [guess I should rewatch S1 to confirm if many carried over]). Definitely arrogant ("we know everything that's going on, it's handled"), but not really evil. I actually thought the main scientist guy made some good points about the consequences of letting the world know the details of the rift. Just imagine the consequences of a rogue state experimenting with opening a rift to the upside down and NOT getting lucky as we've been in closing it again. And he personally certainly redeemed himself at the end.

I very much liked this season. In many ways, it was better than the first. The kids are uniformly great actors, and really telegraph what it's like to be that age.

I will happily watch more seasons, but I'd also be content if they ended things here, since they brought things to a comfortably non-cliffhangery ending, albeit with hooks for future storylines.

I was wondering, though: how the hell did they manage to pay royalties on just about every pop hit from the early 80s? They had extended clips of about 10 songs per episode from big-name artists, and that couldn't have come cheap.

008 for example. She was set up early on. Later, 011's jaunt with her made for an interesting episode, but then ends quickly and she is seen no more. Furthermore, the revelation that 'papa' is still alive. They set all this up, but it goes nowhere - it must be a thread that extends into a future season.

How is it that Max's older brother can simultaneously be the baddest rebel and top jock? Something doesn't add up with that character.

His looks reminded me of another character- Buffalo Bill from The Silence of the Lambs. I figure Season 3 or 4 is all about him crossing over into that character space. Mike obviously needs some counseling and who better than the esteemed Dr Lecter? He'll be a great new character to bring in next Halloween...

OK, so maybe they won't be doing a cross over, but yeah, that's who the new guy reminds me of, so remember you heard it here first if he gets a dog and calls it Precious.

How is it that Max's older brother can simultaneously be the baddest rebel and top jock? Something doesn't add up with that character.

His looks reminded me of another character- Buffalo Bill from The Silence of the Lambs. I figure Season 3 or 4 is all about him crossing over into that character space. Mike obviously needs some counseling and who better than the esteemed Dr Lecter? He'll be a great new character to bring in next Halloween...

OK, so maybe they won't be doing a cross over, but yeah, that's who the new guy reminds me of, so remember you heard it here first if he gets a dog and calls it Precious.

He looks like a cross between and Zac Efron and a young Rob Lowe.

Therefore he's probably from the upside-down. This could not happen naturally, or at least I hope not.

I very much liked this season. In many ways, it was better than the first. The kids are uniformly great actors, and really telegraph what it's like to be that age.

I will happily watch more seasons, but I'd also be content if they ended things here, since they brought things to a comfortably non-cliffhangery ending, albeit with hooks for future storylines.

I was wondering, though: how the hell did they manage to pay royalties on just about every pop hit from the early 80s? They had extended clips of about 10 songs per episode from big-name artists, and that couldn't have come cheap.

How is it that Max's older brother can simultaneously be the baddest rebel and top jock? Something doesn't add up with that character.

That's kinda how it was in my class (87') and the class a year ahead of me. We had the best of both worlds.

Hmm, my brother graduated in 87 also. I don't recall things being like that where I'm from.

Spoiler: show

There is a scene where he is working out while also smoking and drinking a beer. This just doesn't seem quite right.

Eh, I have seen people do that or look like they must in 80's flicks - so I doubt that is in there for realism as apposed to being inspired by films of the 80's (where everyone usually looked good without a shirt on, even if not as buff/ripped as is more typical today, even though most didn't have anything close to a good excuse for why they did).